Heister, Lorenz (1683-1758), German anatomist and surgeon. Heister was one of the founders of scientific surgery. His works on medicine, anatomy, and surgery were widely read for several generations. His main work, a general treatise on surgery, was originally published in 1718 and eventually translated into seven languages. Another major work was an illustrated compendium of anatomical structures that was first published in 1717. It includes the description of the spiral valve that is sometimes known as the valve of Heister.